title: 99mTc-labelled SM3 in the preoperative evaluation of axillary lymph nodes and primary breast cancer with change detection statistical processing as an aid to tumour detection.
abstract: The extent of primary surgery for breast cancer could be tailored to the patient if previous information on the presence or absence of lymph node involvement could be reliably determined. Prospective radioimmunoscintigraphy in 29 patients with primary breast cancer that was found on screening has been undertaken with 555 MBq (15 mCi) 99mTc SM3, an Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) murine monoclonal antibody, 0.5 mg with images at 10 min and 22 h, and analysis using a change detection algorithm. Sites of significant change between the early and later images were displayed as a map of probabilities. Image-positive and -negative axillary lymph nodes were compared by histology in the 28 evaluable patients. The correct identification of the presence or absence of node involvement, even if impalpable, has been shown in 24 out of 28 patients (29 lymph node groups). Sensitivity was 90% (nine out of ten), specificity 84% (16 out of 19) and accuracy 86%. These results encourage further assessment of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Research Laboratory, St Bartholomew's Hospital, The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granowska
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: MacNeill
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Britton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016719:Radioimmunodetection / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013667:Technetium / Q000009:adverse effects; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D013667:Technetium